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The Flense Serial #1
The FLENSE: China
flense /flens/ (v) to slice or strip away the skin and fat from a carcass. (n) a highly contagious disease capable of stripping away an individual's life essence.
THE FLENSE SERIES DESCRIPTION
(BUNKER 12 companion series)
Hundreds die in a fiery train crash in northern China. A cargo ship smuggling refugees is lost to calm seas off the Libyan coast. Entire villages in Ghana are abandoned overnight.
Contracted by an apocalypse prepper group to investigate a series of seemingly disconnected global tragedies, a young freelance medical reporter, Angelique de l'Enfantine, uncovers a disturbing pattern: each event is preceded by the sudden spread of a mysterious ailment and is followed by the appearance of a man dressed in black and silver who witnesses claim is the devil himself. Are the tragedies harbingers of an impending biblical catastrophe or practice runs of a fanatical organization bent on global annihilation?
With each event more grisly than the last and the risk to her life growing, Angel must ask herself if her sponsors are using her to advance their own paranoid agenda.
THE FLENSE consists of 12 novella-length serialized installments (~100 pages each) and is scheduled to begin Jul '15
Sign up to be notified of new releases & exclusive giveaways, including advance access: https://tinyletter.com/SWTanpepper
CONTAIN (BUNKER 12 series pilot)
Three years. That's how long Finnian Bolles has been hiding inside the impregnable walls of the hydroelectric complex known as Bunker 8. Three years, with enough resources to last him and the other thirty survivors three more.
But then a series of disturbing events culminates in the sudden appearance of a stranger at their door. Before he too falls victim to the mysterious sickness known as the Flense, he warns them of a fate more horrific than the one they've been avoiding. But to prevent it, they must leave and seek a place many insist doesn't exist, a mythical twelfth bunker.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: Requiring no more than the slightest skin-to-skin contact, the Flense spreads with ruthless speed and stealth, decimating mankind before it's even aware of it. The infected are turned into soulless creatures, Wraiths, which wreak destruction upon anyone and anything in their path.
Secure inside ten isolated bunkers are Humanity's tattered remains, each working tirelessly to unravel the mystery of the scourge. But the bunkers were never meant to protect forever. In fact, they were never meant to protect at all.
CONTAIN is the first book in the new thriller cyberpunk series BUNKER 12.
From the creator of the highly acclaimed epic cyberpunk series GAMELAND
GAMELAND SERIES DESCRIPTION
Built in the middle of Long Island’s abandoned industrial wasteland is a hundred-square-mile virtual reality arcade where the rich and privileged compete in a high-stakes game and the undead are their real-life avatars. There are only two ways to get into this horrifying yet wildly addictive game. The first is by paid invitation. The second is by volunteering to become an Undead Player.
After finding themselves trapped inside a massive gaming arcade in the middle of Long Island's abandoned wasteland, a group of young computer hackers must figure out how to escape while staying out of the clutches of its undead inhabitants and their living controllers.
Episode One: Deep Into the Game: A reckless end-of-summer prank sends six hackers trespassing onto abandoned Long Island hoping for a glimpse of the victims of the decade-old outbreak. But if they find breaking was easy, they'll soon learn that getting back out is a killer.
Get the first two GAMELAND books for free while you still can!
THE FLENSE SERIES DESCRIPTION
(BUNKER 12 companion series)
Hundreds die in a fiery train crash in northern China. A cargo ship smuggling refugees is lost to calm seas off the Libyan coast. Entire villages in Ghana are abandoned overnight.
Contracted by an apocalypse prepper group to investigate a series of seemingly disconnected global tragedies, a young freelance medical reporter, Angelique de l'Enfantine, uncovers a disturbing pattern: each event is preceded by the sudden spread of a mysterious ailment and is followed by the appearance of a man dressed in black and silver who witnesses claim is the devil himself. Are the tragedies harbingers of an impending biblical catastrophe or practice runs of a fanatical organization bent on global annihilation?
With each event more grisly than the last and the risk to her life growing, Angel must ask herself if her sponsors are using her to advance their own paranoid agenda.
THE FLENSE consists of 12 novella-length serialized installments (~100 pages each) and is scheduled to begin Jul '15
Sign up to be notified of new releases & exclusive giveaways, including advance access: https://tinyletter.com/SWTanpepper
CONTAIN (BUNKER 12 series pilot)
Three years. That's how long Finnian Bolles has been hiding inside the impregnable walls of the hydroelectric complex known as Bunker 8. Three years, with enough resources to last him and the other thirty survivors three more.
But then a series of disturbing events culminates in the sudden appearance of a stranger at their door. Before he too falls victim to the mysterious sickness known as the Flense, he warns them of a fate more horrific than the one they've been avoiding. But to prevent it, they must leave and seek a place many insist doesn't exist, a mythical twelfth bunker.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: Requiring no more than the slightest skin-to-skin contact, the Flense spreads with ruthless speed and stealth, decimating mankind before it's even aware of it. The infected are turned into soulless creatures, Wraiths, which wreak destruction upon anyone and anything in their path.
Secure inside ten isolated bunkers are Humanity's tattered remains, each working tirelessly to unravel the mystery of the scourge. But the bunkers were never meant to protect forever. In fact, they were never meant to protect at all.
CONTAIN is the first book in the new thriller cyberpunk series BUNKER 12.
From the creator of the highly acclaimed epic cyberpunk series GAMELAND
GAMELAND SERIES DESCRIPTION
Built in the middle of Long Island’s abandoned industrial wasteland is a hundred-square-mile virtual reality arcade where the rich and privileged compete in a high-stakes game and the undead are their real-life avatars. There are only two ways to get into this horrifying yet wildly addictive game. The first is by paid invitation. The second is by volunteering to become an Undead Player.
After finding themselves trapped inside a massive gaming arcade in the middle of Long Island's abandoned wasteland, a group of young computer hackers must figure out how to escape while staying out of the clutches of its undead inhabitants and their living controllers.
Episode One: Deep Into the Game: A reckless end-of-summer prank sends six hackers trespassing onto abandoned Long Island hoping for a glimpse of the victims of the decade-old outbreak. But if they find breaking was easy, they'll soon learn that getting back out is a killer.
Get the first two GAMELAND books for free while you still can!
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2015
About the author
Saul W. Tanpepper
75 books209 followersFor the latest news, events and giveaways, subscribe to the Tanpepper Tidings: https://tanpepperwrites.com
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Saul is the specfic pen name of author Ken J. Howe, who writes in a variety of genres. He is a retired biotech entrepreneur with a PhD in molecular genetics and is a former combat medic.
Got a Kindle? Find me at http://viewauthor.at/SaulTanpepper
Got a Nook? I'm here http://bit.ly/VpgXlh
iTunes? Click this http://bit.ly/QnMoJp
Google Play? http://bit.ly/2jVLtVL
Kobo? http://bit.ly/TNIWZX
Do you Smashwords? http://bit.ly/P4SEWi
Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/SaulTanpepper
Saul is the specfic pen name of author Ken J. Howe, who writes in a variety of genres. He is a retired biotech entrepreneur with a PhD in molecular genetics and is a former combat medic.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 5, 2016
Although I've enjoyed other works by this author, this book was not worth it. If you're not already planning to buy into the entire series (that is, the next 11 books?) there's no reason to read this one. It was entirely written only to serve as a giant cliffhanger. That wouldn't be so bad if the author had given us something in this book- a hint, even- but all details are obscured. The main character sees something horrific... but it's not described to the reader. The book opens with a creepy tragedy... and then nothing but cloak-and-dagger chapters follow. Nothing is ever explained- must be saving that for Book 2, along with everything else in the book's description (cargo ship sinking, etc). And the whole family / marriage drama was not very riveting.
To top it off, the book ends in one of those "and then she turned around and saw.... to be continued" moments. Ugh! Commit to buying the whole thing up front or skip this one.
To top it off, the book ends in one of those "and then she turned around and saw.... to be continued" moments. Ugh! Commit to buying the whole thing up front or skip this one.
June 30, 2017
This was ok. I'm not much of fan of short stories or serials, but I enjoyed this authors other work and this sounded really good so I gave it a try. Hmmm, I'm not sure what to say about this to be honest. Being that it's the first in the serial, it didn't really explain much nor go into much character or plot development which let it down, but it does have promise. The start of the book starts with a tragedy and an intriguing virus thing being passed from person to person, but then not a single thing was said about it after that and I was left wondering, WTH. It will probably be explained and expanded on over the course of the serial, but I was left feeling like this was one was meh!!
Doug Greene read it well but I felt like he didn't have enough different tones and voices for the characters. I wasn't drawn into the story as much as I could have been if he had a little more enthusiasm for the story.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
Doug Greene read it well but I felt like he didn't have enough different tones and voices for the characters. I wasn't drawn into the story as much as I could have been if he had a little more enthusiasm for the story.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
July 2, 2015
Awesome start to a promising new series! Looks like Saul Tanpepper has done it again!
The first episode of this 12 part series will have you begging for more!
The first episode of this 12 part series will have you begging for more!
December 31, 2017
This book is part mystery, part medical thriller, and part horror. Its imagery is vivid, so much so that I felt a bit nauseated at times. It starts with a train crash in China that leaves only one survivor and the ensuing conspiracy is far-reaching and evil. There's no other way to describe it. There are powerful people and powerful corporations taking advantage of the poor, the anonymous, and the powerless for money. Sometimes they try to justify it as trying to make life better for people, but they treat people like lab animals and then laugh about it. Like I said--evil.
The main character of the book is Angelique de l'Enfantine, a French woman married to an America she is separated from. She studied to be a doctor, but didn't finish, and instead is a medical reporter. She's also an heiress, which helps since she travels all over the place during the course of this book.
She sees things she isn't supposed to while investigating the story of the train crash and is soon on the run from people who don't want her digging too deeply. The problem is she doesn't know who is on her side and who isn't. Neither do we. When she finally figures out the truth, again the imagery is quite gross and the unethical and illegal behavior of its proponents disgusts her and us. Also, the idea that this human experimentation is continuing leaves you with the feeling that it can get out-of-control very easily and threaten humanity.
Angel, as she prefers to be called, does have some allies, namely, Norstrom. He's a secret agent, but she doesn't know where he's from. He warns her to get away from this thing, but, of course, she doesn't.
There is also a mysterious "man in black" that appears rarely. Angel and we have no idea who he is. An additional mystery involves her brother--is he alive or dead? Does he have a part in all this? We don't know yet.
This is a very good book. I started out thinking it was an apocalyptic viral story, but it isn't. It can easily turn apocalyptic, though. There seem to be very few people with ethical standards, which, unfortunately, mirrors our society today.
This is the first book in a long series. I have the next two Flense books, but it will be quite costly to read the entire series. That is unfortunately.
I highly recommend this book.
The main character of the book is Angelique de l'Enfantine, a French woman married to an America she is separated from. She studied to be a doctor, but didn't finish, and instead is a medical reporter. She's also an heiress, which helps since she travels all over the place during the course of this book.
She sees things she isn't supposed to while investigating the story of the train crash and is soon on the run from people who don't want her digging too deeply. The problem is she doesn't know who is on her side and who isn't. Neither do we. When she finally figures out the truth, again the imagery is quite gross and the unethical and illegal behavior of its proponents disgusts her and us. Also, the idea that this human experimentation is continuing leaves you with the feeling that it can get out-of-control very easily and threaten humanity.
Angel, as she prefers to be called, does have some allies, namely, Norstrom. He's a secret agent, but she doesn't know where he's from. He warns her to get away from this thing, but, of course, she doesn't.
There is also a mysterious "man in black" that appears rarely. Angel and we have no idea who he is. An additional mystery involves her brother--is he alive or dead? Does he have a part in all this? We don't know yet.
This is a very good book. I started out thinking it was an apocalyptic viral story, but it isn't. It can easily turn apocalyptic, though. There seem to be very few people with ethical standards, which, unfortunately, mirrors our society today.
This is the first book in a long series. I have the next two Flense books, but it will be quite costly to read the entire series. That is unfortunately.
I highly recommend this book.
June 25, 2017
CAUTION: This is the first of a 12-part SERIAL so it ends with a cliffhanger! If you are old enough to remember (or have seen on Nick at Night) the old movie serials that played after the cartoon and newsreel but before the feature, then you will know that the cliffhanger is essential to get you to show up next Saturday at the theater, popcorn in hand, to catch the next episode. Guess what? You will definitely want to!
Set in the NOW and playing to the (possibly) paranoid fears of global Big Business, our intrepid heroine, dual citizen of France and the United States, medical expert and journalist, wants to know WHY there have been no rescue efforts after an earthquake and tsunami have leveled a resort island off China. Quickly she is sucked into an investigation of a possible global conspiracy.
Excellent narration [AUDIO] lent additional drama to the story which leaves you in mid-air.
Set in the NOW and playing to the (possibly) paranoid fears of global Big Business, our intrepid heroine, dual citizen of France and the United States, medical expert and journalist, wants to know WHY there have been no rescue efforts after an earthquake and tsunami have leveled a resort island off China. Quickly she is sucked into an investigation of a possible global conspiracy.
Excellent narration [AUDIO] lent additional drama to the story which leaves you in mid-air.
June 27, 2017
Written well. The narrator though was a bit robotic and I couldn't help but find my mind wandering.
*Audio version reviewed*
*Audio version reviewed*
August 26, 2017
Wow what a story, kept me reading until I finished. First time for me from this author and definitely not the last. Received a free book.
July 21, 2015
Two series at once. Ambitious and different. Before and after stories of an apocalyptic event. I enjoyed Contain, the first book in the Bunker 12 series, which begins the story of the after. The Flense begins the story of the before.
I expected that this story would begin in a lab with some sedate but scary science. Not so. Someone is running with their hair on fire right from the first scene, and that pace continues through the entire book. There’s a lot going on here, none of it simple or predictable. Angel is an endearing character, with nerves of steel and a difficult life. This is a novella, but her character is as well developed as you’d expect from a full novel. Conspiracy, unexplained incidents, and odd people make this an intriguing and tense story, right to the last paragraph.
You know, I knew this wasn’t the whole story, I really did. I knew this was the beginning of the series. Still, after I read the last paragraph, I tapped the Kindle for next page, and then sat there staring at it. And for five minutes, I took back every nice thing I’ve ever said about your books, Saul Tanpepper. I did not know your middle name is Cliff. I want the next book. Now.
Read this book. Read this series and the Bunker 12 series. You won’t be sorry.
I expected that this story would begin in a lab with some sedate but scary science. Not so. Someone is running with their hair on fire right from the first scene, and that pace continues through the entire book. There’s a lot going on here, none of it simple or predictable. Angel is an endearing character, with nerves of steel and a difficult life. This is a novella, but her character is as well developed as you’d expect from a full novel. Conspiracy, unexplained incidents, and odd people make this an intriguing and tense story, right to the last paragraph.
You know, I knew this wasn’t the whole story, I really did. I knew this was the beginning of the series. Still, after I read the last paragraph, I tapped the Kindle for next page, and then sat there staring at it. And for five minutes, I took back every nice thing I’ve ever said about your books, Saul Tanpepper. I did not know your middle name is Cliff. I want the next book. Now.
Read this book. Read this series and the Bunker 12 series. You won’t be sorry.
August 7, 2015
As I really enjoyed Saul's Bunker 12 I was intrigued to read how it all began.
This one didn't captivate me as much as the post-incident thread of the story, but I still enjoyed it. It was a little slow at times, delving into more character detail than perhaps was necessary and I was thrown by a seemingly bizarre incident which was either supernatural or hallucinatory but seemed out of place.
All that said, I shall definitely be continuing the series as I am appreciating the fact that we get to see this story from the pre and post point of view.
Recommended.
This one didn't captivate me as much as the post-incident thread of the story, but I still enjoyed it. It was a little slow at times, delving into more character detail than perhaps was necessary and I was thrown by a seemingly bizarre incident which was either supernatural or hallucinatory but seemed out of place.
All that said, I shall definitely be continuing the series as I am appreciating the fact that we get to see this story from the pre and post point of view.
Recommended.
January 11, 2016
This is the first instalment of what promises to be a complex thriller, based around the premise of a deadly outbreak. The characters are well-rounded and realistic, especially our heroine Angel, and the very varied settings are vividly portrayed. You can see the events happening as you read - it's plausible and very engaging. Looking forward to episode 2!
This was a free review copy from the author.
This was a free review copy from the author.
June 28, 2017
Oh My Gosh what a wild ride author Saul Tanpepper takes you on, this book starts at the top of the hill of a roller coaster and never stops, even the ending is a cliffhanger (it is a serial after all) and I CAN NOT wait for part two. I had the audiobook narrated by Doug Greene who just make the excitement that much more palpable. So Mr. Tanpepper you have me hooked, how many more people will you reel in?
August 18, 2015
I downloaded a copy of this book from Smashwords and i absolutely loved this book.I like the concept of being able to read the Flense( before) series & the Bunker (after) series together.The author delivers nonstop action and had me up half the night reading this story.I'm impatiently waiting for the next installment of both series Mr Tanpepper.Tap....Tap.....Tap......
September 27, 2015
Right from the beginning of this book you can feel the tension, it sucks you in and keeps you there, then has you wanting more.
Shadow companies, intrigue, an action filled plot and great character from the very beginning.
Saul Tanpepper is a master of suspense and he's onto another winner with this series.
Shadow companies, intrigue, an action filled plot and great character from the very beginning.
Saul Tanpepper is a master of suspense and he's onto another winner with this series.
July 6, 2015
It grabs you and won't let go! Being the first in the series/serial, it DEMANDS you wait for the gashdarn 2nd installment. Read it :D then tell me how you feel.
Happy Birthday Saul!
*I received a free copy of this for an honest review.
Happy Birthday Saul!
*I received a free copy of this for an honest review.
January 9, 2016
This was my first ever read of Saul Tanpepper.
He writes SO well, that I will read everything he does.
This story grabs you and does not let up. Being the first part in a 3 part collection, the endings suck. And that's only because you have to wait for the next part!
He writes SO well, that I will read everything he does.
This story grabs you and does not let up. Being the first part in a 3 part collection, the endings suck. And that's only because you have to wait for the next part!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews